Saint Paul Downtown Alliance to host second year of pop-ups at Central Station

Saint Paul Downtown Alliance to host second year of pop-ups at Central Stationadmin2018-07-16T11:35:55-06:00

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance today announced the launch of another year of pop-ups and activations at Central Station in downtown Saint Paul at 5th and Minnesota Streets.

“Bringing vitality and excitement to every corner of downtown Saint Paul is our goal at the Downtown Alliance,” said Joe Spencer, president of the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance. “We also strive to grow the number of employers and workers here, and the activation at Central Station is a perfect example of how we can come together to create fun, vibrant and welcoming spaces for everyone.”

The Downtown Alliance, with funding from the Knight Foundation, will build on the success of last year’s series of pop-ups to create an expanded, activated public space in the heart of downtown, beginning August 1 and running through October 31. This year’s pop-up public space will feature:

An expanded seating area

A new active play zone with outdoor activities, including lawn games, a ping pong table, and a book cart

A community manager has also been hired for this year’s activation. This full-time staff member will be onsite at Central Station and will work in conjunction with project managers and community members to foster an inviting, clean, and safe environment for all visitors.

The public space and placemaking firm The Musicant Group – which designed, built and produced the space last year – has been retained to oversee the expansion of the project this season.

“In our work we’ve found that positive activity drives out negative activity, without displacing people,” said Max Musicant, founder of The Musicant Group. “We are excited to partner with the Downtown Alliance to expand upon what worked last year to deliver an exceptional experience to every employee, resident, and guest who visits Central Station this season.”

The project will kick off with a community build event on Friday, July 27 from 3-6 p.m. Volunteers are invited to come to the site to assemble and decorate furniture, install landscaping, and enjoy free refreshments and snacks.

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance is a new, nonprofit organization with the mission of building a strong and vibrant downtown. The Downtown Alliance represents businesses, nonprofits, government entities, residents, and entrepreneurs as it looks to recruit, retain and grow businesses, attract new investments, and create a positive downtown experience. For more information, visit stpdowntownalliance.org.